It is not a secret that Tesla's Autopilot system has seen its ups and downs for some time now. There are many people and institutions who, time and time again, put the system to numerous tests regarding its safety features.
Previous controversies have included the Autopilot feature being triggered without a driver, involvement in road mishaps, and a few more.
Tesla's full Autopilot feature is perhaps the most advanced update on electric vehicles (EV) to date, but it is also plagued with controversy after reportedly triggering life-threatening car accidents in recent months.
According to a report from Electrek, Tesla is currently under fire by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) in Germany after finding some 'irregularities' in its Autopilot features. The automaker is now forced to modify its Autopilot features implemented in the country as requested by transport authorities.
German Transport Authority Orders Tesla to Modify Autopilot Features
Another controversy is poised to surface after the KBA discovered irregularities with the smart vehicle's driver assistance system that Tesla reportedly addressed "partially."
According to Wirtschaftswoche, the Federal Motor Transport Authority began scrutinizing the revolutionary EV feature earlier this year as a part of their market surveillance focused on Tesla's Autopilot system. These tests carried out by the KBA came out with an intriguing result.
Some Features of Tesla Vehicles Are Illegal in Europe
The KBA noted previously this year, through a series of tests, that Tesla's automated lane change function may be illegal according to existing traffic laws in various European countries.
According to the Wirtschaftswoche article, the transportation authorities also claimed that Tesla only unlocks certain functions if the driver obtains a particular number of points based on his driving skills. KBA argues that this should not be the case for any vehicle operating on major roads as cars should be accessible to any person that is fit enough to drive.
It is also worth noting that Tesla's autopilot technology improves by gathering traffic data from its whole fleet's database. This means that data from North America, especially ones from the United States, play a role in enhancing the whole system.
This feature will definitely impact how Tesla's vehicles function in Europe, given that there are some key differences between the two regions' traffic systems and behaviors.
KBA Also Points Out The 'Lack of Transparency'
Authorities from the KBA also mentioned the car manufacturer's lack of transparency in communicating software updates. KBA President Richard Damm threatened to shut down Teslas affected by the said anomalies if the car manufacturer would not disclose all their needed information.
Furthermore, the KBA cannot finalize its decision regarding the vehicles' issues if Tesla will not provide the crucial information.
In other news, CNBC reports that Chris Lister, VP of Gigafactory Operations, has departed the company. Hrushikesh "Hrushi" Sagar was promoted to Gigafactory Manager. This is confirmed via leaked audio obtained by CNBC.
